Too many mutations?

[Megan.]

On another thread, a few days ago someone said there are too many mutations, or something along those lines. I believe they also stated we should stop breeding all these mutations.

Are there too many mutations? Should we do away with certain mutations? If so, which one? Why should we do away with one over the other?


Of course, it seems the people who think we have too many mutations- are they, themselves, breeding mutations- and the harder to breed mutations at that(Recessives). What is up with this?

Should we go back to only breeding standards? Of course, they would have to be pure standards....

[Megan.]

This is my personal feeling:

I don't believe we have too many mutations. What I do believe, is that we have too many people breeding these mutations who don't care about them.

As long as there are people willing to breed good animals to each other, and improve on the mutation- why worry about having too many different mutations? We should worry about those "Breeders" who don't care one way or the other, and are ruining the mutations. Let the people who ar eworking their butts off continue to do so, and breed whatever mutation they like. Yes, standards are nice animals- but mutations add varity. If people are willing to improve on them-- be my guest and breed away with mutations!

However, if you aren't going to try and imrpove, then don't breed---period.

[jencortinas]

Kudos to you!! Well said..but as long as there is a buck to be made...people will do it regardless!!This is my personal feeling:

I don't believe we have too many mutations. What I do believe, is that we have too many people breeding these mutations who don't care about them.

As long as there are people willing to breed good animals to each other, and improve on the mutation- why worry about having too many different mutations? We should worry about those "Breeders" who don't care one way or the other, and are ruining the mutations. Let the people who ar eworking their butts off continue to do so, and breed whatever mutation they like. Yes, standards are nice animals- but mutations add varity. If people are willing to improve on them-- be my guest and breed away with mutations!

However, if you aren't going to try and imrpove, then don't breed---period.

[Pokey88]

I don't believe there are too many mutations, just too many names for them! I think someone needs to say this is this and that's FINAL. I'm so sick of there being 5 different names for one chin, and people calling their animals the wrong thing! Like "Silver" good lord people, silvers have NO SPOTS!!! >_< They are white with grey tipping allllllll ove their body. NO SPOTS!

I think that's the major problem. That, and what you stated Megan. people breeding crappy chins to crappy chins and charging lots of money. All of us who are trying to improve the breed are just getting screwed over by people wanting a cheaper crappier breeding chin, they don't care about the quality. Also, everyone and their mother wanting to breed. I have been breeding for about a year and a half and i STILL haven't profited! These people don't realize how much can go wrong when breeding, and to keep all the animals healthy it costs money, Good money!
People want the most colorful cheap chin they can find! It's ridiculous.

I also think that we shouldn't breed so many mutations to other mutations. That's the Show perspective speaking. I think all of these TOV Tan White V/c etc. are just too much. By the time you stuff all those genes into them they're scrawny and are no where near improving the chinchilla breed. I think we need to stick to basics and realize the importance of GOOD STANDARDS!

[Chingal]

Well I am one of those who breeds the "crazy" colors and since they place ( ebony wrap white sapphires (possibly TOV) 3rd or better at the shows judged against top whites mosaics I really do not think they are as bad as people tend to make them out to be.I think that some people are not equipped with enough space or money it takes to develop the rarer colors and if oyu are then by all means stick to one not 3 or more as I see some doing. My project is putting the white and ebony in my sapphires, I have a little of everything but that is the line I want to develop inot somethign great one day.I think that is part of the fun of breeding chins not only to produce the best but to take a color and over the years develop it into a nice animal through very selective breeding.Not just buying the best breeding the best and winning at the shows. I still believe that a person should develop their own line by selective breeding starting at whatever point they can. NOt just buying grand shows and breeding them.

[Tito]

I for one know very little when it comes to breeding and mutations so i personally dont breed. However i think it is great for the more experienced to try and strengthen any particular color mutations out there. I do love standards and actually have 4 out of the nine chins i own but i do love the varity of other mutations out there. I think it is amazing for those who are well experienced to take there time and dedicate it to improving a specific(s) mutations.

[bear]

I still believe that a person should develop their own line by selective breeding starting at whatever point they can. NOt just buying grand shows and breeding them.

The higher starting point anybody can get, the less work they have to do to catch up to what is ALREADY a top animal. Why reinvent the wheel? Just my $.02.

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

Good point Bear.

[Chingal]

Yes bear it is a good point but what I was trying to say is that I like most of us did not have alot of $ when I started and bought what I could afford and slowly have worked my way up from average chins to top quality chin who gets high marks at the shows. I also get more satisfaction out of seeing those chins who are ALL my breeding 5 or 6 generations back sitting at the top of the table than ones I have purchased.

[foxbite2]

I don't believe there are too many mutations, just too many names for them! I think someone needs to say this is this and that's FINAL.

I couldn't agree more... The cashier at PetSmart told me she had a piebald.... I had no clue what she was referring too... so I asked her to describe what she had.. and it turned out to be a Black Velvet.